Apparatus and method of filling microscopic powder

• US 20030155035A1
• Filed: 01/30/2003
• Published: 08/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Ichikawa, Hideo, Nakada, Masakazu, Rimoto, Masanori
• Granted Patent: US 6,854,493 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 141/301
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 1/16 by pneumatic means, e.g. by suction
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 1/28 Controlling escape of air or dust from containers or receptacles during filling
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 1/34 Adjusting weight by trickle feed
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 39/004 moving linearly
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 69/0008 Opening and emptying bags

Abstract

A powder filling apparatus includes a first container configured to contain a powder. A weighing tank is configured to receive the powder from the first container and discharge a predetermined amount of the powder to a second container, which includes an opening configured to discharge the powder into the second container and a regulator configured to open and close the opening to discharge the predetermined amount of the powder into the second container. A connector is configured to feed the powder from the first container into the weighing tank.

Claims

1. A powder filling apparatus comprising:

a first container configured to contain a powder;

a weighing tank configured to receive the powder from the first container and discharge a predetermined amount of the powder to a second container, comprising;

an opening configured to discharge the powder into the second container; and

a regulator configured to open and close the opening to discharge the predetermined amount of the powder into the second container; and

a connector configured to feed the powder from the first container into the weighing tank.

2. The powder filling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the powder is a toner powder.

3. The powder filling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first container comprises a flexible plastic bag.

4. The powder filling apparatus of claim 3, wherein the flexible plastic bag has a thickness of from 30 to 200 μ

m.

5. The powder filling apparatus of claim 3, wherein the flexible plastic bag comprises one of a flat bag and tapered bag.

6. The powder filling apparatus of claim 3, wherein the flexible plastic bag is hooked on the apparatus.

7. The powder filling apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:

an inclined plate, wherein the flexible plastic bag is located on the inclined plate.

8. The powder filling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a porous member from which air is discharged.

9. The powder filling apparatus of claim 1, wherein an end of the connector connected with the first container is located at a position substantially the same as a mounting position of the first container.

10. The powder filling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connector is separable into a first part connected with the first container and a second part connected with the weighing tank.

11. The powder filling apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a deaerator configured to deaerate at least one of the first container and the connector.

12. The powder filling apparatus of claim 11, wherein the deaerator is provided on the first container.

13. The powder filling apparatus of claim 11, wherein the deaerator is provided on the connector.

14. The powder filling apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an aerator configured to aerate the first container when the powder is fed into the weighing tank.

15. The powder filling apparatus of claim 14, wherein the aerator starts aeration when the powder is fed into the weighing tank and stops the aeration when a surface of the powder reaches a predetermined position in the weighing tank.

16. The powder filling apparatus of claim 14, wherein the aerator aerates with dehumidified air.

17. The powder filling apparatus of claim 8, wherein the porous member is formed on an end of the connector connected with the first container.

18. The powder filling apparatus of claim 8, wherein the porous member is formed on a bottom surface of the connector.

19. The powder filling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the regulator is positionable to provide at least three levels of discharging including a free discharge, a stopped discharge and a partial discharge of the powder.

20. The powder filling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the weighing tank comprises a powder fluidizer configured to fluidize the powder fed from the weighing tank to the second container through the opening.

21. The powder filling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a powder fluidizer configured to fluidize the powder fed from the first container through the connector.

22. The powder filling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first container comprises an inclined inner wall.

23. The powder filling apparatus of claim 22, wherein the first container comprises a hopper-shaped structure in a lower part thereof, and wherein the inclined inner wall comprises a part of the hopper-shaped structure of the first container.

24. The powder filling apparatus of claim 22, wherein the inclined inner wall comprises a valley having a shallow slope, and wherein the valley comprises a powder fluidizer configured to accelerate fluidization of the powder.

25. The powder filling apparatus of claim 21, further comprising an upper connector located above the connector, wherein the first container and weighing tank are connected to each other with the upper connector.

26. The powder filling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the regulator comprises an elastic ring having the opening and a discharge controller configured to control discharging the powder from the opening, wherein the discharge controller comprises a discharge control rod reciprocating in the weighing tank and a discharge control member fixed on the discharge control rod, and wherein the discharge control member comprises a conical member configured to be inserted into and released from the opening to control discharging the powder.

27. The powder filling apparatus of claim 26, wherein an open area of the opening is adjusted by controlling an insertion level of the conical member into the opening of the elastic ring.

28. The powder filling apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:

a drive unit configured to reciprocate the discharge control rod.

29. The powder filling apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a suction tube configured to extract air in the second container, wherein the suction tube has an insertion opening comprising a mesh material passing air without passing the powder.

30. The powder filling apparatus of claim 20, wherein the powder fluidizer comprises a porous material and an air intake tube configured to lead compressed air into the porous material.

31. The powder filling apparatus of claim 24, wherein the powder fluidizer comprises a porous material and an air intake tube configured to lead compressed air into the porous material.

32. The powder filling apparatus of claim 25, wherein the powder fluidizer comprises a porous material and an air intake tube configured to lead compressed air into the porous material.

33. The powder filling apparatus of claim 30, wherein the air intake tube comprises an air feeding control valve configured to start and stop feeding air, and control an amount of the feeding air.

34. The powder filling apparatus of claim 31, wherein the air intake tube comprises an air feeding control valve configured to start and stop feeding air, and control an amount of the feeding air.

35. The powder filling apparatus of claim 32, wherein the air intake tube comprises an air feeding control valve configured to start and stop feeding air, and control an amount of the feeding air.

36. The powder filling apparatus of claim 31, wherein the connector comprises a downslope through which the powder fluidized by the air discharged from the air intake tube is fed into the weighing tank.

37. The powder filling apparatus of claim 32, wherein the upper connector comprises an upslope through which the air led by the air intake tube is evacuated into the first container through the weighing tank.

38. The powder filling apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first tank and the weighing tank further comprises an inner pressure controller configured to increase and decrease the inner air pressure therein.

39. The powder filling apparatus of claim 28, further comprising a filled powder weight controller configured to control a weight of the powder in the second container.

40. The powder filling apparatus of claim 39, wherein the filled powder weight controller comprises a load cell configured to measure a filled powder weight.

41. The powder filling apparatus of claim 40, further comprising:

a monitor configured to display the filled powder weight weighed by the load cell.

42. The powder filling apparatus of claim 40, wherein the filled powder weight controller further comprises a processor configured to compute the filled powder weight from a difference between an empty weight of the second container and a gross weight of the second container filled with the powder.

43. The powder filling apparatus of claim 42, wherein the processor comprises an input device configured to input and change a filling weight of the powder to be contained in the second container.

44. The powder filling apparatus of claim 42, further comprising:

a drive controller controlling the drive unit, wherein the processor sends a drive signal to the drive controller.

45. The powder filling apparatus of claim 42, further comprising:

a first air feeding control valve configured to start and stop feeding air, and control an amount of feeding air into the weighing tank;

a second air feeding control valve configured to start and stop feeding air, and control an amount of feeding air into the connector; and

a third air feeding control valve configured to start and stop feeding air, and control an amount of feeding air into the first container,

wherein the processor sends an opening or closing signal to at least one of the first, second and third air feeding control valves.

46. The powder filling apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a support configured to support the second container, comprising;

a filled powder weighing device configured to control a weight of the powder container; and

an inner air remover configured to remove air from the powder contained in the second container, and

a funnel comprising a powder discharge portion which is configured to fit an opening of the second container with substantially no space therebetween and through which the powder is discharged from the weighing tank to the second container,

wherein the opening of the weighing tank comprises a powder supply and stop device.

47. The powder filling apparatus of claim 46, wherein whether the powder in the funnel is discharged into the second container can be identified from outside, and the filled powder weighing device is configured to weigh a total empty weight of the funnel and the powder container, and a total weight of the funnel, the second container and the powder present in the funnel and the second container.

48. The powder filling apparatus of claim 46, wherein the powder supply and stop device is configured to stop or discharge the powder based on the total weight of the funnel, the second container and the powder present in the funnel and the powder container.

49. The powder filling apparatus of claim 46, further comprising an additional powder feeder configured to additionally feed the powder based on the total weight of (i) the funnel, the second container and the powder present in the funnel and (ii) the second container while the powder remains in the funnel, wherein the additional powder feeder has a lower powder feeding capacity than the funnel.

50. The powder filling apparatus of claim 46, wherein the inner air remover comprises a release tube configured to extend from an inside to an outside of the second container.

51. The powder filling apparatus of claim 50, wherein the release tube is located at a discharge portion of the funnel and is configured to release from and fit to the second container together with the funnel.

52. The powder filling apparatus of claim 50, wherein the release tube comprises a suction opening configured to be disposed in the second container, and wherein a position of the suction opening is configured to be movable.

53. The powder filling apparatus of claim 46, wherein the inner air remover comprises a powder surface compressor comprising a mesh configured to selectively remove air from inside of the second container.

54. A powder filling method comprising:

feeding a powder from a first container through a connector into a weighing tank comprising an opening and a regulator;

feeding the powder from the weighing tank to a second container; and

controlling the open degree of the opening to fill the second container with a predetermined amount of the powder.

55. The powder filling method of claim 54, wherein controlling further comprises controlling the open degree of the opening to allow the opening to perform at least one of freely discharging, stopping discharging or partially discharging the powder.

56. The powder filling method of claim 54, further comprising:

fluidizing the powder fed from the weighing tank into the second container through the opening with a first powder fluidizer provided at the opening.

57. The powder filling method of claim 56, further comprising:

fluidizing the powder fed from the first container into the weighing tank through the connector with a second powder fluidizer.

58. The powder filling method of claim 54, further comprising:

fluidizing the powder in the first container by forming an inclined wall in the first container.

59. The powder filling method of claim 58, wherein the first container comprises a hopper-shaped structure in a lower part thereof, and wherein the inclined inner wall comprises a part of the hopper-shaped structure of the first container.

60. The powder filling method of claim 58, wherein the inclined inner wall comprises a valley having a shallow slope, and wherein the valley comprises the third powder fluidizer configured to accelerate and fluidize the powder.

61. The powder filling method of claim 54, further comprising:

deaerating air in the weighing tank into the first container with an upper connector located above the connector.

62. The powder filling method of claim 54, wherein controlling further comprises controlling the open degree of the opening by inserting a conical member into or releasing from the opening.

63. The powder filling method of claim 54, wherein controlling further comprises controlling the open degree of the opening by extending or withdrawing a plate along the opening.

64. The powder filling method of claim 62, further comprising:

driving the conical member with a drive unit.

65. The powder filling method of claim 63, further comprising:

driving the plate with a drive unit.

66. The powder filling method of claim 54, further comprising:

extracting air in the second container with a suction tube,

wherein the suction tube has an insertion opening comprising a mesh material through which air passes and powder does not pass.

67. The powder filling method of claim 56, wherein fluidizing the powder with the first powder fluidizer further comprises leading compressed air through a porous material of the first powder fluidizer.

68. The powder filling method of claim 57, wherein fluidizing the powder with the second powder fluidizer further comprises leading compressed air through a porous material of the second powder fluidizer.

69. The powder filling method of claim 68, wherein fluidizing the powder with the third powder fluidizer further comprises leading compressed air through a porous material of the third powder fluidizer.

70. The powder filling method of claim 67, wherein fluidizing the powder with the first powder fluidizer further comprises controlling the compressed air with an air feeding control valve.

71. The powder filling method of claim 68, wherein fluidizing the powder with the second powder fluidizer further comprises controlling the compressed air with an air feeding control valve.

72. The powder filling method of claim 69, wherein fluidizing the powder with the third powder fluidizer further comprise controlling the compressed air with an air feeding control valve.

73. The powder filling method of claim 54, wherein the connector comprises a downslope from the first container toward the weighing tank.

74. The powder filling method of claim 61, wherein the upper connector comprises an upslope from the weighing tank toward the first container.

75. The powder filling method of claim 54, further comprising:

controlling an inner air pressure in at least one of the first container and weighing tank.

76. The powder filling method of claim 66, further comprising:

weighing a filled powder weight in the second container.

77. The powder filling method of claim 76, wherein the weighing is performed with a load cell.

78. The powder filling method of claim 77, wherein weighing further comprises displaying the filled powder weight weighed by the load cell in a monitor.

79. The powder filling method of claim 76, wherein weighing further comprises weighing an empty weight of the second container and a gross weight of the second container filled with the powder.

80. The powder filling method of claim 79, wherein weighing further comprises inputting a filling weight of the powder to be contained in the second container in a processor, weighing the powder weight in the second powder container by weighing an empty weight of the second container and a gloss weight thereof filled with the powder, and determining a judging information based on whether the powder weight is the filling weight.

81. The powder filling method of claim 80, further comprising:

sending the judgment information to a drive controller to control the open degree of the opening.

82. The powder filling method of claim 80, further comprising:

fluidizing the powder with a powder fluidizer provided at the opening by leading compressed air;

controlling the compressed air with an air feeding control valve; and

sending the judgment information to a controller to control an amount of the compressed air.

83. A powder filling method comprising:

weighing a total empty weight of a powder container and a funnel set on the powder container;

discharging a powder into the powder container through the funnel;

weighing a total weight of a powder, the powder container and the funnel while the powder remains in the funnel; and

comparing the total empty weight with the total weight to determine the powder weight before finishing filling the powder container with the powder.

84. The powder filling method of claim 83, further comprising:

discharging an additional amount of the powder to adjust the weight of the powder to be a target amount of the powder.

85. The powder filling method of claim 84, wherein discharging the additional amount of the powder is performed through a second funnel.

86. The powder filling method of claim 83, further comprising:

forcibly deaerating the powder container.

87. The powder filling method of claim 83, further comprising:

deaerating air in the powder container using a tube provided on the funnel.

88. The powder filling method of claim 86, wherein forcibly deaerating further comprises using a movable suction tube located separately from the powder container and the funnel.